The road back to another Big Ten title starts in early December for UCLA.
The reigning national champion Bruins have unveiled their 2026-27 conference slate, and the trip opens with a road game at Oregon on Sunday, Dec. 6. From there, UCLA settles into the grind of league play with a home date against Northwestern on Wednesday, Dec. 30, kicking off a stretch that will carry the Bruins through the heart of the season.
Cori Close’s team will have plenty of familiar heavyweight matchups on the schedule. UCLA gets Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State and USC at home. The Bruins’ road docket includes Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, Washington and Wisconsin.
Broadcast details and tipoff times will be announced later.
UCLA enters the season with the highest possible standard after last spring’s run to its first NCAA championship, a breakthrough followed by six players being taken in the WNBA Draft. Now the spotlight shifts to sophomore forward Sienna Betts, who is set to lead the Bruins as they chase more postseason success.
The calendar starts to tighten quickly after that New Year’s week opener. UCLA hosts Nebraska on Saturday, Jan. 2, then hits the road for games at Purdue and Indiana before returning home for Minnesota and Penn State. The Bruins also face a rugged late-February finish, including both USC games, a trip to Washington, and road dates at Wisconsin and Iowa.
2026-27 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Sunday, Dec. 6 - @ Oregon
Wednesday, Dec. 30 - vs. Northwestern
Saturday, Jan. 2 - vs. Nebraska
Tuesday, Jan. 5 - @ Purdue
Friday, Jan. 8 - @ Indiana
Tuesday, Jan. 12 - vs. Minnesota
Friday, Jan. 15 - vs. Penn State
Thursday, Jan. 21 - @ Rutgers
Sunday, Jan. 24 - @ Maryland
Saturday, Jan. 30 - vs. Illinois
Tuesday, Feb. 2 - vs. Michigan
Sunday, Feb. 7 - vs. USC
Thursday, Feb. 11 - @ Wisconsin
Sunday, Feb. 14 - @ Iowa
Thursday, Feb. 18 - vs. Ohio State
Sunday, Feb. 21 - vs. Michigan State
Thursday, Feb. 25 - @ USC
Sunday, Feb. 28 - @ Washington
In Other News...
UCLA Faces An Early Recruiting Test For An Elite Quarterback
UCLAs recruiting staff is already facing an early test for one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the 2028 class, as Bob Chesney and his group push to land 4-star prospect Josiah Boyd. The Bruins are in the mix with Oregon and Kentucky, and Boyd has trimmed his list to those three schools as he prepares to visit each of them in the coming weeks.
For UCLA, the appeal is obvious. Boyd is ranked as the No. 2 quarterback in his cycle, and the Bruins are hoping their resources and their proximity to his hometown can give them an edge when the process gets serious. With visits ahead and a tight race still taking shape, this is the kind of early battle that can help define how ambitious the Bruins recruiting pitch really is. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Heads Into Big Ten Opener With Key Availability Questions
UCLAs first Big Ten injury report for its matchup with Purdue brings a few familiar September concerns into sharper focus. Safety Tao Johnson and wide receiver Mikey Matthews both showed up among the players listed as inactive or questionable, while Landon Ellis is expected back and tight end Josh Phifer may sit out again after missing the previous game.
The Bruins still head into the conference opener unbeaten, but the availability questions add another layer to a game that already carries plenty of early-season weight. How much depth UCLA has to lean on, especially in the secondary and passing game, could shape the way it handles a Purdue team that will be getting its first look at the Bruins in Big Ten play. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Faces An Early Big Ten Test It Cant Sleepwalk Through
The Big Ten opener at the Rose Bowl gives UCLA an early chance to find out what kind of team it really is, and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy is making it clear the Bruins cannot afford a slow start or a loose stretch once the game settles in. Purdue arrives with enough talent to make that point matter, from linebacker Charles Correa and defensive end Jeremy Lewis on defense to a backfield led by Fame Ijeboi.
Ryan Browne has also taken a step forward with the help of new wide receiver additions, which only adds another layer to the matchup for UCLA. For a Bruins team trying to establish itself in a new conference, this is the sort of early test that can expose bad habits fast, especially if the game turns into a back-and-forth fight instead of the comfortable afternoon many teams hope for at home. [Read more 🡒]